Rockies’ Tracy holds team meeting before today’s game with losing streak at five

Rockies manager Jim Tracy told reporters before a day game Wednesday that he didn't sense "any panic" from his players.

SAN DIEGO — Following batting practice today, manager Jim Tracy held a team meeting.

He told reporters during his pre-game presser that he didn’t sense “any panic” from his players. But with five straight losses and six games remaining on the road trip, it’s clear the Rockies have to stop the slide soon or risk facing a daunting challenge to reach .500 again by the time they return home.

Tracy talked to the media about the importance of putting a full game together. The message to his team was unknown at this point. But clearly the Rockies, 2-8 over their last 10 games, need to clean up their mistakes. As infielder Marco Scutaro said today before the meeting, “We have to turn the page and move on. Right now when we hit we don’t pitch and when we pitch we don’t hit. We need to put it all together.”

Added outfielder Michael Cuddyer following last night’s loss, “It’s a long season. We will get it fixed.”

This is the first mini-crisis of the year, by any measure. The Rockies have weathered uneven play for a month, but anytime the team is struggling while on the road it becomes a slippery slope. The Rockies are in danger of being swept for the second consecutive time. They squandered five- and six-run leads on Friday and Saturday against Atlanta, losses that Tracy believed carried over.

Rookie Christian Friedrich will make his debut today, facing the Padres’ Anthony Bass.